The city police have booked gangster Feroz Bengali (40), his wife and other accomplices, for allegedly forcibly acquiring six flats and two shops at Manisha Complex in Kondhwa worth Rs. 1.27 crore without paying a penny to the builder.

Police said Bengali, wife Yasmeen (35), Bengali's brother-in-law Anwar Shaikh, uncle Munir Shaikh and driver Mohsin Shaikh (22) have been booked in connection with the case.

"Bengali is already under police custody for other cases. While others would be arrested soon," said Deputy Commisioner of Police Jalinder Supekar.

Police said builder Rajendra Shitole (47) had bought two-acres land from Baby Lonkar and built Manisha Apartment housing and commercial complex on it in 1995. Bengali and his associates forcibly took possession of flat no f 26, f 27, f 31, f 33, f 35 and shop number 2 and 3 in the complex since 1995 without paying any money to the builder or any legal agreement. After this he and his family started staying in the flats and also gave some of the property on rent, police said.

They also threatened to kill Shitole when he demanded the money due to him along with the legal agreement. So he refrained from filing a police complaint against Bengali. Whenever, a prospective customer used to come at Manisha Apartment society for enquiring about the flat, Bengali and his associated used to advise them against buying any property in the society, police said.

Supekar said Bengali is a dreaded gangster and has more than 26 cases registered against him. His gang has around 20 members. He was also booked in a MCOCA case in 2000 but was acquitted later.

Presently, he is undergoing trial for eight cases and is in police custody. "We are going to seek his transfer in connection with this case. The police would also be enquiring whether Bengali and his gang have forcibly acquired any other properties."